Chapter 9, The Quest of Erebor Summary

Gandalf comes across Thrain who, in death, gives him a map and a key to get into the secret door of Erebor. Thrain gives Gandalf the map and key and tells him to give them to his son. Later, Gandalf runs into Thorin Oakenshield, Thrain's son, who wants to destroy the dragon Smaug. Gandalf convinces Thorin to take the hobbit Bilbo with him on a quest to use the map and the key to open the secret door and, Thorin hopes, to destroy Smaug. Thorin agrees, but only on the condition that Gandalf go with them in order to look after Bilbo.

Chapter 9, The Quest of Erebor Analysis

The beginning of the chapter starts with an outline of the happenings earlier recounted in an appendix of Lord of the Rings, in which the Dwarves escape from the Lonely Mountain...